The following lists events that happened during 1940 in New Zealand.
Population Estimated population as of 31 December: 1,633,600. Increase since 31 December 1939: -8000 (−0.49%). Males per 100 females: 99.1.
Incumbents
Regal and viceregal Head of State – George VI Governor-General – The Viscount Galway GCMG DSO OBE PCStatistics New Zealand: New Zealand Official Yearbook, 1990. ISSN 0078-0170 page 52
Government
The 26th New Zealand Parliament continued with the Labour Party in government.
Speaker of the House – Bill Barnard (Labour Party) Prime Minister – Michael Joseph Savage then Peter Fraser Minister of Finance – Walter Nash Minister of Foreign Affairs – Michael Joseph Savage then Frank Langstone Attorney-General – Rex Mason Chief Justice – Sir Michael Myers
Parliamentary opposition Leader of the Opposition – Adam Hamilton (National Party) until 26 November, then Sidney Holland (National).
Main centre leaders Mayor of Auckland – Ernest Davis Mayor of Hamilton – Harold David Caro Mayor of Wellington – Thomas Hislop Mayor of Christchurch – Robert M. Macfarlane Mayor of Dunedin – Andrew Henson Allen
Events
25 March: John A. Lee is expelled from the governing Labour caucus following his outspoken criticism of dying leader Michael Joseph Savage 27 March: New Zealand's first Labour Prime Minister, Michael Joseph Savage dies from cancer in Wellington. 19 June: The liner is sunk by a mine laid by the off Whangarei. She was carrying British gold destined for America. 12 July: Pan American Airways flying boat service from Hawaii to Auckland via Canton Island (not Kingman Reef) commences. 14 December: The Canterbury Pioneer Women's Memorial was formally opened. German surface raiders operated in New Zealand waters in 1940 and 1941, sinking four ships.
Arts and literature
See 1940 in art, 1940 in literature
Music
See: 1940 in music
Radio
See: Public broadcasting in New Zealand
Film Rewi's Last Stand (1940) One Hundred Crowded Years
See: :Category:1940 film awards, 1940 in film, List of New Zealand feature films, Cinema of New Zealand, :Category:1940 films
Sport
Chess The 49th National Chess Championship was held in Wellington, and was won by John Dunlop of Dunedin (his 6th and last title).List of New Zealand Chess Champions
Cricket
Horse racing
Harness racing New Zealand Trotting Cup – Marlene Auckland Trotting Cup – Ned WorthyAuckland Trotting cup at hrnz.co.nz
Lawn bowls The national outdoor lawn bowls championships are held in Wellington. Men's singles champion – G.A. Deare (Carlton Bowling Club) Men's pair champions – L.G. Donaldson, Bill Bremner (skip) (West End Bowling Club, Auckland) Men's fours champions – Bill Whittaker, J.W.T. Macklow, Alec Robertson, Frank Livingstone (skip) (Onehunga Bowling Club)
Soccer The Chatham Cup is won by Waterside who beat Mosgiel 6–2 in the final.Chatham Cup records, nzsoccer.com Provincial league champions: Auckland: Comrade Canterbury: Western Hawke's Bay: Napier HSOB Nelson: No competition Otago: Mosgiel South Canterbury: No competition Southland: No competition Taranaki: RNZAF Waikato: No competition Wanganui: Technical College Old Boys Wellington: Waterside
Births 12 January: Dick Motz, cricketer (d. 2007) 13 February: Stan Rodger, politician (d. 2022) 17 February: James Laurenson, actor (d. 2024) 23 March: Brian Hastings, cricketer (d. 2024) 14 April: Robin Tait, discus thrower (d. 1984) 7 June: Felicity Riddy, author and academic 9 June: Philip Trusttum, artist (d. 2026) 10 June (in the USA): Augie Auer, meteorologist (d. 2007) 23 June: Mike Shrimpton, cricketer (d. 2015) 1 July (in Australia): Judith Binney, historian (d. 2011) 8 July: Waka Nathan, rugby union player (d. 2021) 15 July: Ian Athfield, architect (d. 2015) 3 August: David Baragwanath, High Court judge. 11 August: Glenys Page, cricketer (d. 2012) 31 August: Maurice (John) Belgrave, public servant and chief ombudsman (d. 2007) 3 September: Brian Lochore, rugby player (d. 2019) 18 September Bruce Murray cricketer Jon Trimmer, ballet dancer. 24 September: Don Brash, Governor of the Reserve Bank of New Zealand, politician 6 October: Merv Wellington, politician (d. 2003) 24 October: Martin Campbell, film and TV director date unknown Robyn Donald, writer. Tessa Duder, writer. Joe Hawke, politician. Michael Jackson, poet, anthropologist Maurice McTigue, politician and diplomat.
Deaths 12 January: Taurekareka Henare, politician. 27 March: Michael Joseph Savage, Prime Minister. 28 May: Florence Young, missionary. 6 June: F.O. Edgar "Cobber" Kain, first RAF ace of WWII. 17 November: Frank Moore, political activist. Hannah Retter, New Zealand centenarian (born 1839)
See also History of New Zealand List of years in New Zealand Military history of New Zealand Timeline of New Zealand history Timeline of New Zealand's links with Antarctica Timeline of the New Zealand environment
For world events and topics in 1940 not specifically related to New Zealand see: 1940
References
External links